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IFA 2016: Sony Xperia XZ and X Compact first look review

| Sep 5th, 2016

IFA 2016 has kicked off in Berlin with not one, but two smartphones from Sony, both additions to the Xperia range. The Xperia XZ takes flagship camera capabilities to the max, while its little brother, the X Compact crams plenty of smarts into a palm-sized, pocketable-friendly smartphone.

Sony Xperia X Compact

Xperia X Compact

First, the Xperia X Compact is a small form factor handset loaded up with striking, high-gloss design and very competent specs.

The HD screen is 4.6 inches, around the same size as an iPhone 6s. With IPS screen technology, clarity and vibrancy are the name of the game.

The phone also has a high-resolution 23-megapixel camera around the back and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 processor under the hood – translating to great pictures and snappy performance.

Sony Xperia XZ

Sony Xperia XZ

Sony’s new 2016 flagship, the Xperia XZ, measures a larger 5.2 inches and sporting a Full HD screen, this is an absolute powerhouse, perfect for a demanding user come rain or shine.

The XZ looks exceptional thanks to its ALKALEIDO metal body. This treatment gives the phone an almost chameleon-like ability to change colour depending on the angle available light falls on it. Paired with a new curvaceous design, this is an exceptional looking smartphone. In addition to looking fantastic, it’s also IP68 water and dust resistant, meaning it will be suited to anyone whose work exposes them to the elements.

Diving inside the phone and the top-tier design houses top-tier specs thanks to a Snapdragon 820 processor. This ensures speedy performance and lightning fast 4G, whether working on a PowerPoint presentation when out and about or uploading files to your cloud storage services.

The processor also enables 4K video shot on the 23-megapixel rear camera. Thanks to five-axis optical image stabilisation, the XZ steadies your shot like a pro device, even when in a moving vehicle.

Add business apps

With both phones supporting micro SD card expansion and offering 32GB on-board storage, as well as large batteries, they won’t leave you short when it comes to either space or battery.

Finally, with Android on-board, app support is extensive – this includes O2 Business apps like Office 365, McAfee Multi Access, O2 Just Call Me conference calls and Box cloud storage.